Dendritic Cell–Targeted Therapies to Treat Neurological Disorders

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the immune system’s highly specialized antigen-presenting cells. When DCs are sluggish and mature, self-antigen presentation results in tolerance; however, when pathogen-associated molecular patterns stimulate mature DCs, antigen presentation results in the development of antigen-specific immunity. DCs have been identified in various vital organs of mammals (e.g., the skin, heart, lungs, intestines, and spleen), but the brain has long been thought to be devoid of DCs in the absence of neuroinflammation. However, neuroinflammation is becoming more recognized as a factor in a variety of brain illnesses. DCs are present in the brain parenchyma in trace amounts under healthy circumstances, but their numbers rise during neuroinflammation. New therapeutics are being developed that can reduce dendritic cell immunogenicity by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokine production and T cell co-stimulatory pathways. Additionally, innovative ways of regulating dendritic cell growth and differentiation and harnessing their tolerogenic capability are being explored. Herein, we described the function of dendritic cells in neurological disorders and discussed the potential for future therapeutic techniques that target dendritic cells and dendritic cell–related targets in the treatment of neurological disorders.